A ‘BIGGER and better’ Marks and Spencer will open at its new Rugby home in November.
The new shop will become the second ‘anchor’ store at the revamped Elliott’s Field Retail Park alongside Debenhams when it opens at 10am on Wednesday November 18.
But the store confirmed it will end its 78-year presence in Rugby town centre when its High Street store closes on the previous day – disappointing shoppers and campaigners who wanted it to remain open or be replaced by a new M&S Food Only store.
The new 42,000 sq ft store – triple the size of the existing store – will bring more than 90 new jobs to the area.
The shop will include womenswear, menswear, kids and baby wear, lingerie and beauty departments, a 9,600 sq ft food hall, an in-store bakery and an M&S Café.
Store Manager Charlotte Hayes, said: “We have been able to recruit a large number of people from the immediate area, and some of our new employees are already in training. All employees currently working at the existing store have been offered a role at the new store.”
A selection of the 90 new employees will be recruited through M&S’ Marks & Start programme, which aims to give confidence and skills to those who face barriers into work.
The new branch will support locally-based national charity Circles Network as its Charity of the Year.
But the closure of the old store, which has traded since 1937, is a blow to town centre shoppers and politicians who opposed the move when first announced a year ago.
MP Mark Pawsey met with M&S bosses at Westminster last year to urge them to open a Simply M&S food store in the town centre, claiming more houses and nursing homes being built in the town centre would maintain demand.
Labour’s Coun Claire Edwards agreed, adding her concern that the closure would take place during Rugby’s World Cup festival, and urging the store to at least delay the closure until after Christmas.
M&S Elliot’s Field Retail Park will be open 8am-8pm Monday-Saturday and 10am-4.30pm on Sundays. Visit www.careers.marksandspencer.com for more information about jobs at the new store.
